Shot fired as men fight for gun

MURFREESBORO — A Joelton man was mugged and then shot at as he fought off his robber, falling down a flight of stairs in the struggle, according to police reports provided to The Daily News Journal.

Dylan Valentine, 20, told Murfreesboro police Officer Rafiq Qadir that he was on his way to his girlfriend’s apartment on the second story of a College Grove apartment building on Lascassas Pike just before midnight Saturday when a man coming from the third floor came up behind him and grabbed him by the neck in a chokehold.

“Mr. Valentine stated that (he) broke free of the chokehold and the unknown black male began fighting,” Qadir reported. “Mr. Valentine said he was knocked to the ground.”

His robber then demanded money, “while simultaneously reaching for a gun in his waistband,” Qadir said.

The victim told police he tried to jump up and tackle the man to keep the gun from going off.

“A scuffle ensued between Mr. Valentine and the gunman for the firearm when the gun went off.” Qadir stated.

The men continued to fight until they both fell down the stairs to the first floor, the officer reported.

When they hit the ground, the attacker jumped up and ran off, getting into an older model black Ford Focus that was parked near the mailbox area, Valentine told police. The victim’s girlfriend told officers she witnessed the fight. The discharged bullet was found in the wall of her laundry room. Another resident at the apartment complex heard the gun go off and called police.

The suspect is described as a black male around 5 feet 9 inches and 200 pounds with short dreads or braids. He was wearing khaki shorts with a black and gray zippered hoodie. The incident is still under investigation and anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 615-893-STOP (7867).